Armstrong gears up to defend time trial gold

LONDON – Kristin Armstrong seemed to be retiring at the perfect time.

The Olympic time trial champion had just won another world championship.

She had competed in every major race, and won her share of them. She was 36 years old and ready to start a family.

There was only one problem.

She wasn’t ready to get off the bike.

So after giving birth to her son Lucas in 2010, the American resumed the long hours that made her one of the best cyclists of her generation.

Despite a broken collarbone sustained earlier this year, she’ll be defending her time trial gold today at the London Games .

“A lot of people ask, ‘Why did I need to come back?’ ” said Armstrong, a University of Idaho graduate. “After winning a gold medal and retiring with a world championship medal, what more is there? I realized the reason I stopped the sport of cycling is to have a child.

“I wanted to start a family, and as I was getting older, I wasn’t sure how long it would take. Luckily for us, Lucas came into our lives a little over a year later, after the world championships, and I realized that I really wanted to continue on my bike. It’s what I love to do.”

Today’s highlights

Swimming: gold medal finals in men’s 200-meter breaststroke and 100 freestyle, as well as women’s 200 butterfly and 4x200 freestyle relay.

Gymnastics: Men’s all-around gold medal final.

Beach volleyball: Misty May-Treanor/Kerri Walsh (United States) vs. D. Schwaiger/S. Schwaiger (Austria).

Diving: Men’s synchronized springboard gold medal final.

See TV schedule on Page B7 for today’s time and channel listings.